With more than two months of regular season games left, Dallas Mavericks fans are looking forward to seeing how their team fares. Before the trade deadline, the Mavericks were able to strengthen their front line by acquiring forward P.J. Washington from the Charlotte Hornets and center Daniel Gafford from the Washington Wizards. Now, both big men could make their Dallas debuts on Saturday.
If you look at it, Team Latest Injury ReportNeither Washington nor Gafford were named on the list, according to Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News.
Mavericks new addition may finally solve rebounding problem
Dallas' move to strengthen its frontcourt is due to the team's overall lack of rebounding. Currently, the Mavericks are allowing just 41.5 rebounds per game, which ranks 25th in the league. Additionally, when it comes to defensive boards, Dallas only manages 31.6 of them per contest, ranking him 26th overall on the team.
It doesn't help that the Mavericks' interior defense also needs work. On a game-by-game basis, teams allow him 53.3 points in the paint (22nd overall), but he manages only 4.3 blocks (26th). These numbers hurt the Mavericks and could possibly be the main reason why Dallas sits in 8th place in the Western Conference.
Either way, with P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford in the lineup, many expect the Mavericks to start showing signs of more toughness in the paint. Washington is only 6'7 tall, but his 230-pound frame and his 7-foot-3 long wingspan allow him to compete on the block. Gafford, on the other hand, is 6-foot-10 and is averaging 8.0 rebounds this season.
With improved frontcourt strength to complement the team's versatile group of guards and wings, the Mavericks look like a more formidable contender on paper. And Saturday against the Oklahoma City Thunder, fans may get their first glimpse of what the new additions have to offer.
